TAB Million Dollar Chase Rolls Into Bulli

TRAINER Deb Coleman has walked into a firestorm at Bulli this Monday with her classy galloper She's Gifted lining up in the second of two outstanding TAB Million Dollar Chase heats.

News filtering through in recent weeks had suggested the Bulli qualifiers of the $1 million to-the-winner series were going to be top-shelf, and that's exactly what's materialised with some outstanding sprinters kicking off their Million Dollar Chase campaigns in the south coast series.

Check out the heats here

"You wouldn't believe it would you – haven't we copped it," said Coleman jokingly, taking it all in her stride.

Coleman and her partner Rob Camilleri venture to Bulli this Monday with three Million Dollar Chase aspirants, Slingshot Hammer and recent kennel acquisition Immediate drawn in a red hot heat one, while their group winning kennel star She's Gifted will take her place in an equally challenging heat two.

"The idea was that we'd go to Bulli and if things don't go to plan we'd still have plenty of time to look at other options," Coleman added.

"None of the three have been to Bulli before but that shouldn't worry them … they're good travellers and will be better for their runs at the track on Monday."

She's Gifted, winner of last year's Group 2 Queensland Futurity and a courageous third behind My Redeemer in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup, returned to the winner's list at Geelong last start, scampering over the 460 metres in a slick 25.70.

The wonderfully bred daughter of Fabregas and She's Gifted has been a marvelous money-spinner for connections, winning 24 of her 50 race starts, her prize money earnings closing in on $200,000.

"She probably hasn't come back as good as she was since we had to scratch her from the Australian Cup Final earlier in the year but she's still very good … we just love her," Coleman added.

"She's had some niggling injuries we've had to manage since then and you'll notice in her form she'll have a couple of starts and then a week or two off. We have to manage those injuries as best we can. We took her to Angle Park for a few runs but she just never handled the track and lure there at all."

On Monday at Bulli, She's Gifted has the daunting task of tackling star NSW chaser Pindari Express, the reigning Group 2 Bulli Cup winner drawn in box two for trainer Tracey Scruse.

Boasting the Bulli 400 metre (21.93) and Maitland 450 metre (24.59) track records beside his name, Pindari Express was a brilliant last start Bulli winner over the 472 metres in 26.00, a performance that saw him shoot up in all-in markets for the October 18 final of the Million Dollar Chase at Wentworth Park.

As well as Pindari Express's much hyped appearance, recent Group 1 National Sprint Champion Premium Share will also begin his Million Dollar Chase assault in heat two from box one, the star WA sprinter in the hands of Jeff Britton for the lucrative series.

And while the second qualifier is choc-full of talent, the opening heat doesn't provide much respite for Coleman either, with her paring of Slingshot Hammer and Immediate taking their place against boom Victorian track record breaker Shima Shine (box eight) and Group 1 Maturity Classic runner-up Whiskey Riot (box one) who trialled at the track on Monday in a flying 26.08.

Throw into the mix Andy and Jodie Lord's Global Impact (box two) who has won 10 from 10 for the Gunning trainers since transferring from Victoria, and you have a mouthwatering opening heat where anything less than a sub-26 run is likely to be enough.

"Slingshot Hammer won in 22.18 at Geelong over the 400 metres last week; that's about as good as they go there," Coleman added.

"He's [Slingshot Hammer] in at Sandown tonight (Thursday) and should go well. We haven't had Immediate for that long, just the one start for one win, the experience away will do him good but if he doesn't measure up to this then the Adelaide Cup series might be another option for him."

And while Coleman believes She's Gifted still has some good races in her, she concedes retirement is not all that far away.

"I said to Rob the other day I'll have to start getting her ready for the house soon – maybe at the expense of him," Coleman laughed.

"She gives her all every time she goes around and Monday will be no different. If she leads and runs 26.20 – which she's capable of – then they'll know she's there.

"All three are very good dogs and capable of running very good races on their day.

"Hopefully, that's Monday!"